Car-coupling



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buffers from below. Fig. 6 represents the two CHARLES DIETZ, OF

PATENT CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 304,184, dated August 26,1884.

Application filed June 4, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES D1ETz,a citizen of the United States, residing in Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new an d useful Improvements in Car- Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention consists in an improvement in car-couplings, and has for its objects to provide simple and efficient means by which the couplings can be operated from either side of the cars andthe cars either coupled or uncoupled without the necessity of an attendant going in between the cars; also, to provide a novel, simple, and efficient construction of coupling, which can be either employed with certain adj uncts which constitute portions of my improvement, or such adjuncts dispensed with in cases where old cars are to be coupled by the ordinary coupling-links; also, to adapt the coupling to be adjusted from one side of the car and maintained in position for coupling, and then by rapid and easy manipulation operated so as to lock together a pair of opposing couplings; also, to adapt the couplings to curves in the road to high and low cars, to provide against loss or displacement of any member of the coupling devices; and, nally, to generally improve the details of construction of a car-coupling, whereby cars can be coupled with certainty and with but little labor, and a breakage of the coupling -bolts easily remedied, all as hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated in the annexed drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an end view of a car provided with my improved coupling. Fig. 2 represents in side elevation a pair of cars coupled together. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section through the coupling-lever and one o f the latches provided for locking the same. Fig. et represents in perspective an end portion of a car, with my improved coupling shown in a different position from the coupling in Fig.1. Fig. 5 is a plan View of the under side of a ear, and illustrates the coupling and spring-v opposing draw-heads partially broken away, with the coupling-.bolt of one draw-head received in the remaining draw-head, which lat# ter is in position to receive the head of the bolt. Fig. Y is a like View, but with the drawhead receiving the bolt-head turned at right angles to the position in which it is shown in .the preceding figure, whereby the bolt-head is prevented from being drawn out of the drawhead, and the draw-heads thereby coupled together. Fig. Sis a section taken transversely through the draw-head at its junction with the draw-bar, and also through the rear end of the coupling-bolt, which is shown secured in a socket by means of a pin.

Referring by letter to the several figures of the drawings, in which like letters denote like parts, A indicates the draw -head provided with a suitable construction of draw-bar, and employed in connection with any desired construction of spring-cushion or resistance. The

mouth or entrance to the draw-head consists of an oblong slot or opening, B, through which the oblong head oi' a coupling-bolt, C,

is permitted to pass when the draw-head is in position to bring the length of its slot coincident with the length of the oblong bolt-head. The draw-head is provided with a chamber, I), back of its oblong mouth, and of sufficient area to allow the draw-head to be turned at a one draw-head, so that the bolt-head shall project through and beyond the mouth of the drawhead, in order to enter the draw-head of an opposing car in coupling. The bolt can be secured in eitherdraw-head, and for such purpose I provide in the rear wall of the chamber in the draw-head a seat or socket adapted to receive an enlargedbutt-endE of the coupling-bolt. The butt-end of the coupling-bolt is secured within the draw-head by means of apin, F, passing through the draw-head, and also through the butt-end of thezcoupling-bolt. The passage for this pin is formed at such angle that a quarter-turn ofthe draw-head will not bring the pin in a position in which it shall be liable to drop out-as, for example, the Yhole for the pin formed transversely through the draw-head is arranged to be at or IOO about an angle of forty-live degrees, as in Fig. 9, at a time when the length of the bolt-head is in position to enter an opposing draw-head, in which'way, should it be desired to turn the draw-head carrying the coupling-bolt, a onequarter turn of the said draw-head and bolt will simply bring the pin at an angle of fortyiive degrees at the opposite side of a vertical planelthrough the center of the draw-head.

As a means for operating the draw-head, I provide a coupling-lever, G, pivoted to an end of the car, and having its handle end extending out at one side of the latter, so that it can be manipulated by a person without going between the cars. This lever is connected with the draw-head by a pair of cords, wires, links, or chains, II and I, secured at their lower ends to one side of the draw-head at a point substantially common to both. These chains, rc'- spectively, connect with the coupling-lever at opposite sides of the fulcrum of the latter, whereby, when the lcveris swung in either direction, one of the chains will be vdiawn taut, and serve to give a partial axial rotation to the draw-head, while the remaining chain will slacken up, so as to permit the draw-head to thus turn. The lever works in a guide formed between a segmental plate, K, secured at its end to the end of the car, and for the greater portion of its length standing out from the car, so as to allow space for the lever; or said plate can be secured to a segmental base-plate, which latteris in turn secured to the car. The lever is locked at each end of its swing or stroke by a spring-latch, L, two of which are provided foreach lever. As a simple arrangement, thelatch is provided with a spring-shank secured to the segment-plate, K, in which a suitable opening` for the latch is formed. The lever' and chains are arranged so that a full stroke of the lever in either direction will give a one-quarter turn to the draw-head, and the latter is so arranged that when it is in position for coupling the length of its mouth shall lic in a horizontal plane, as in Fig. 4, in which way in coupling a stroke of the lever in the proper direction will bring the lengthoi' the said mouth into a vertical position, as in Fig. I. 'Ilie coupling-bolt is fitted in one drawhead, so that the length of its head shall be parallel with the length of the mouth of the draw-head through which the said bolt passes.

In coupling the head of the coupling-bolt carried by one draw-head enters an opposing draw-head, and by then giving a part turn to either draw-head the cars will be coupled together. The coupling-bolt head is of an ob- -long form, and can be of the shape shown, or arrow-headed, or of other analogous coniiguration, so that after it has entered the chamber in a draw-head, and a partial turn been given to either draw-head, the front walls of the draw-head receiving the head of the bolt will prevent the latter from being drawn out until the members are again brought into position for uncoupling.

The length of the bolt-head can be considcrnbly less than that of the draw-head mouth, in which way no diffieultywill be experienced in coupling high and low cars.

Should thc bolt at any time become broken, it can be readily removed and replaced by a new one.

Vhere one or more cars with the old style of draw-head, adapted for the ordinary coupling-links, are made up in the train, the coupling-bolts can be removed and the pins heretofore employed for holding in said bolts can now be used for engaging the links, for which purpose the draw-heads will be provided with holes M, in which the said pins can be inserted for such purpose.

N N indicate spring-buiers for taking up the shock when two ears meet for coupling. These spring-buffers, constituting spring-resistances between the opposing ends of the cars, admit ofthe draw-heads, and then drawbars being readily turned, since the draw-heads will be kept away from each other to the required exte'nt. rIhe draw-bar turns in any desired arrangement of bearings, and the spring is arranged in any convenient way.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. rIhe swiveled draw-head' provided with a chamber, D, an oblong narrow entrance, Il, thereto, and a seat or socket formed in the rear wall of said chamber, in combination with a coupling-link, C, having at one end a wide iiattened head, and at its other end a butt, E, adapted to fit in the seat in the rear wall oi' the chamber, and provided with a perforation for a locking-pin which passes through the draw-head and the butt-end of the couplinglink, so as to detachably connect the latter with the draw-head, and a mechanism, substantiall y as described, for axially turning the draw-head, the said chamber being adapted to in turn receive the head of the link when the latter is carried by an opposing draw-head, and the width oi' the link-head is coincident with the length of the entrance to the chamber, substantially asset forth.

2. A pair ofopposing swiveled draw-heads, each provided with a chamber, an oblong entrance to the same, and a seat back ot' the chamber for receiving the rear end of a coup- `ling-link, in combination with a mechanism,

substantially as described, for axially turning each vdraw-head, and a coupling-bolt having its'rear end detachably secured by a lockingpin in the seat in either draw-head, and having'at its forward end a wide flattened head capable of entering an opposing draw-head when the width of the link-head is coincident with the length of the entrance to the chamber therein, whereby the link can be secured by a locking-pin to either one of said drawheads, and its head coupled with the other draw-head, substantially as'and for the purpose set forth.

3. A pair of swiveled draw-heads, each provided with a chamber, D, a narrow oblong entra-nce thereto, and a socket formed in the rear IOO IIO

Wall of said chamber, in combination with a mechanism, substantially as described, for turning each draw-head, a coupling-link, C, having at one end a Wide flattened head, and at its opposite end a perforated butt fitted in the seat-back of the chamber of either one of said draw-heads, and a locking-pin, F, passing through the draw-head and through the perforated bntt-end of the coupling-link, the passage for said locking-pin through the drawhead and link being arranged to bring the locking-pin in an inclined position when the draw-head is in position to maintain the head of the coupling-link ready for entering the oblong entrance to the opposing draw-head, so that after the link-head has entered said opposing draw-head a quarter-rotation of the draw-head carrying the coupling-link shall bring the locking-pin into areversely-inclined position, and therebyT in either of the two positions the pin be held at an inclination to a horizontal plane, so as to avoid its dropping out, substantially as set forth. y

4. A swiveled draw-head provided with a chamber, D, having an oblong entrance thereto, in combination with a coupling-link, C, detachably connected at its butt-end in the drawhead, and having its forward end provided with a Wide flattened head capable of entering the oblong entrance, a similarly-constructed opposing draW-head when the Width of the head is coincident with the length of the said entrance, and a pair of spring-controlled buffers, N, normallyprojected by their springs beyond the outer end of the sWiVeled draw-head, whereby said buffers shall take up the shock when the pin carried by one draw-head enters an opposing one, and also admits of either draw-head being readily turned either for coupling or for uncoupling, by reason of the tendency of the buffers to hold the opposing` ends of the draw-heads apart, substantially as described. f

CHARLES DIETZ.

Vitnesses: WV. W. ELLIOTT, Grills. G. PAGE. 

